Tag Archives: North America

Neiman Marcus Skylight in Chicago

Posted on August 29th, 2016 by

Nautical Skies

I say it time and time again, look up! I was wondering Michigan Avenue in Chicago with Pamela on one of our first visits to Downtown Chicago together and we walked by Neiman Marcus and I thought…oooh swanky department store! I didnt really need anything, but I did as I often suggest and was rewarded by a quick look around. What a wonderful skylight!

Neiman Marcus Skylight in Chicago
Neiman Marcus Skylight in Chicago

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/13
  • Camera: Canon EOS 20D
  • Taken: 6 August, 2008
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/320s
  • Title: Neiman Marcus Skylight in Chicago

Welcome to The Sears Tower

Posted on August 15th, 2016 by

DA BEARS

When I was in High School we (the band) took a trip to The Windy City. SNL was one of my favorite things back then so Chicago held a particular fascination simply for the accent people sometimes have in the home of da bears. I was to my disappointment that MOST people I encountered had not one iota of the accent…until I went to the Sears Tower. The lady who hosted the film on the building’s construction sounded like she WAS the original Super Fan! “Welcome to Da Sears Tower. Please watch your step,” she intoned. It stopped me dead in my tracks in the door of the theater. I looked at her opened mouthed and finally asked if she could please say “DA BEARS” for me. She didn’t skip a beat and in the same wonderful accent said, “No…Move along sir! Welcome to Da Sears Tower.” Somehow that was even better than I could have anticipated and something I will never forget.

P.S. To me, it will always be The Sears Tower!

Welcome to The Sears Tower
Welcome to The Sears Tower

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 28 October, 2011
  • Focal length: 50mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/200s
  • Title: Welcome to The Sears Tower

Price Tower Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Posted on August 8th, 2016 by

Master Architects

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of those architects I would drive out of my way to see. Price Tower is an extremely unique in that it is to my knowledge the only “sky scraper” Wright ever created. On a trip to Oklahoma City for a basketball game, Pamela and I decided to make a detour to see this wonderful building. Sadly it was amazingly strong sun when we were there. Photos of the inside are off limits (BOO). Even in the strong sun, even denied interior photos, the building is still amazing. Everywhere you look you see more and more little details that on first inspection you miss. If you love architecture like I do, and you are even close to Bartlesville, OK stop by and take the tour (be sure to check for times)!

Price Tower Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Price Tower Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/640s
  • Title: Price Tower Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Funk!

Posted on July 14th, 2016 by

Eating at the Bar

When I solo travel (and other times with Pamela) I have found it super helpful when going to busy restaurants to get a seat at the bar. Most places serve their full menu at these easy to obtain seats, plus you get the benefit of all the goings on of the bar. Many restaurants soul flows through this hub and it’s a fun place to have a conversation and see what really happens in this place. This is one of the bar stools at Flatbread Company, one of my favorite places to eat in Maui. While you might find cheaper fare on the island, you will be hard presses to find better pizza most anywhere.

Funk!
Funk!

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/2.8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 26 July, 2012
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/250s
  • Title: Funk!

Archives of The United States Of America

Posted on July 4th, 2016 by

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 4th of July everyone! This photo was taken on the same trip as the one I released last Thursday. I was meandering aimlessly around the mall. “What is that building?”, I thought to myself as I walked generally toward it. I did one of those stop in your tracks sort of moves when I realized it was the Archives of the United States of America! It was almost closing time and I only had about 15 minutes to go through. No photography is allowed because of the delicate nature of the documents held inside. It is quite a thing to see in person the founding documents of our Nation. Though I serendipitous discovered the archives, I would highly recommend not missing them!

Archives of The United States Of America
Archives of The United States Of America

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/5.6
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 28 May, 2012
  • Focal length: 22mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/1000s
  • Title: Archives of The United States Of America

Image of a Tree in the Sun

Posted on June 30th, 2016 by

Skeletal Tree

I almost missed the Washington D.C. Mall sculpture garden of the National Gallery of Art. I happened along it after visiting the National Archives and was headed at near the end of the day to the Metro station that pops out in the Mall. As I walked by I was immediately drawn in wondering how on Earth I had always missed this fantastic stroll! This tree sculpture is called “Graft” and it is by the artist Roxy Paine. It’s always interesting to see artists other works when they are this iconic. I noticed on my first visit, another of Paine’s sculptures adorns the entry to Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas. This D.C. trip I found the skeletal tree at just the right time of evening for a fun shot, playing off the sunset.

Image of a Tree in the Sun
Image of a Tree in the Sun

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 28 May, 2012
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/1250s
  • Title: Image of a Tree in the Sun

The Back End of the Space Shuttle Discovery

Posted on June 20th, 2016 by

Space Flight

The impressive Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the incomparable collection of the Smithsonian, has this beast as one of its central attractions. The are bigger planes, more historically significant flying machines, few hold the mystique of the space shuttle. This is the back end of Discovery, who’s history is chronicled through the display. Seeing a shuttle that close, seeing what are the scars of it battle on re-entry, is a truly a huge bit of awe that I hope anyone interested in flight gets to witness.

The Back End of the Space Shuttle Discovery
The Back End of the Space Shuttle Discovery

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/2.8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 29 May, 2012
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/100s
  • Title: The Back End of the Space Shuttle Discovery

The Greatest Sunrise on Earth

Posted on June 13th, 2016 by

The Greatest

I have been a good number of places and seen a LOT of sunrises and sunsets. I admit a preference to the latter of these as they aren’t placed so darn early in the morning. The benefit to the former, is most people don’t bother to get up early enough to see them so they tend to not be as well attended as the sunsets. I also have to admit a preference in sunrise and the greatest sunrise on Earth is in Maui, Hawaii atop Haleakalā. With the right weather, the light and color move in a dance that can rarely be fully witnessed. From the top the volcano you can fully experience the symphony of nature playing it’s beauty. It’s a spectacle like none other and one I hope everyone gets to see.

The Greatest Sunrise on Earth
The Greatest Sunrise on Earth

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 22 July, 2012
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1.3s
  • Title: The Greatest Sunrise on Earth

Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii

Posted on June 2nd, 2016 by

Visiting Bee

As I hiked up Lanikai Mountain in Oahu I came across this lonely cactus. It had been abused by unkind passers by, stepped on, trampled and cut. I noticed however a lovely flower. Regardless of its pain and abuse by the world, it produced something beautiful. While I was noticing this, a bee seemed very happy to visit the lonely and discarded wretch on that dry hill. I took this as a divine lesson, and try to keep it in my heart.

Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii
Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/2.8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 27 May, 2015
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/2000s
  • Title: Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii

Remember…The Enola Gay

Posted on May 30th, 2016 by

Remember

Today we recognize Memorial Day and those who died serving the armed forces and also, hopefully the costs of war. My visit to Air and Space in D.C. was a highlight of visit. The most impact came from this shiny Boeing B-29 Superfortress. It’s big, but size is common in this hanger. It’s shiny, but there are a number of unpainted highly polished planes around. It’s impact comes from the simple lettering of her name…Enola Gay. The plane helped end the War and saved untold numbers of American lives all while killing 140,000 Japanese. Today, remember and be thankful for our service men and women who lost their lives defending our Nation. Remember too the horrible cost of war for all and say thank you the Veterans in your life…for they carry an intimate knowledge of these costs, that we will never understand.

Remember…The Enola Gay
Remember…The Enola Gay

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/2.8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 29 May, 2012
  • Focal length: 25mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/200s
  • Title: Remember...The Enola Gay